ROYAL VISIT: Prince Charles to celebrate landmark Harrogate event in February

Alex Johnston

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will make a Royal visit to mark Harrogate International Festivals’ landmark anniversary year.

Their Royal Highnesses will attend a celebratory event at Harrogate’s Royal Hall on February 18, which will showcase the work of Harrogate International Festivals.

His Royal Highness is Patron of the arts charity which began in 1966 as the Harrogate Festival of Arts and Sciences. It now delivers a major cultural and economic impact on the District and is considered one of the North of England’s leading arts organisations.

Fiona Movley, Chair of Harrogate International Festivals, said: “We are thrilled that Their Royal Highnesses have chosen to visit us at the start of our 50th Anniversary year. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to recognise the scale of our year-round work as a vital arts charity in the town. Their Royal Highnesses will meet Festival supporters, staff and beneficiaries of our charitable work. This is the first official Royal visit in the history of the Festivals and promises to be a very special occasion.”

The Festival was at the forefront of classical music in the 60s, the vanguard of comedy and street theatre in the 80s and 90s, and in the last decade has developed a series of landmark literary festivals.

Its renowned Young Musicians Series has also shaped the classical music landscape, with artists including Lesley Garrett, Julian Lloyd Webber and Emma Johnson launching their careers at the Festival.

Annually, over 5000 people access the Festival’s free arts and culture programmes including music, science and literacy.

It hosts over 300 events each year, attracting more than 90,000 people.

The charity hopes to raise £1m with its Future 50 Appeal to help safeguard the next 50 years; only 1% of its income is from public fund.

To find out more about 2016 events and the Future 50 Appeal, visit www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com